The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted counterfeit malaria medicines valued at over ₦1.2 billion during a raid on a warehouse in the Ilasa-Oshodi area of Lagos.
The agency, in a statement released on Friday via its official X handle, said operatives uncovered 277 cartons of the fake Malamal Forte drugs, which had been smuggled into the country.
According to NAFDAC, the unregistered products were disguised in cartons labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg and illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China. The consignment was allegedly declared as spare parts to evade detection.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the seizure as part of ongoing nationwide operations to safeguard public health.
“This seizure is part of NAFDAC’s sustained effort to ensure that only safe, quality medicines are available to Nigerians,” Adeyeye said, noting that the agency has intensified monitoring of ports and warehouses in collaboration with security agencies.
She emphasized that government support had further strengthened NAFDAC’s capacity to clamp down on counterfeiters, warning importers and distributors against attempts to flood the market with dangerous products.
The agency stressed that counterfeit and substandard medicines remain a major public health challenge in Nigeria, where malaria continues to take a heavy toll. The World Health Organisation estimates that Nigeria accounts for 27 per cent of global malaria cases and 31 per cent of malaria deaths.
Public health experts warn that fake antimalarial drugs not only endanger lives but also fuel drug resistance, undermining years of progress in tackling the disease.
In recent years, NAFDAC has ramped up its anti-counterfeit operations, with previous raids leading to the seizure of fake antibiotics, pain relievers, and antimalarials worth billions of naira.
